About

WE ARE CHANGE AGENTS.

$51,519

pledged of $50,000 goal

327

backers

OUR WHY//

WE ARE CHANGE AGENTS FOCUSED ON MAKING THE WORLD BETTER FOR GIRLS + WOMEN.

We are taking back the commercial kitchen and revolutionizing the role of women in it. Many restaurant kitchens are not safe, healthy, mentoring environments that enable women to build long term careers in food. We plan to change that.

We are an event production business and our unique value is that we have created a new kind of business that combines a passion for FOOD, with our experience in EVENT PRODUCTION with our overall mission to LEAD, MENTOR and SUPPORT WOMEN.

We are women owned and run. Our mission is to empower women to create and execute their craft on their terms and learn to drive a successful business.

We have to be the change we want to see. As Emily's (our in-house guru) mom Brenda says... 'Don't just TALK about it, BE about it.' We take that to heart and use it as our muse every damn day.

the future of food is female tote

WHAT IS THE NIGHTWOOD?//

THE NIGHTWOOD is a culinary adventure offering one-of-a-kind experiences. We are a private event space where we host unique pop-up dinners, corporate off-sites, networking parties, etc, all in our new space in NE Portland. We're a creative incubator, and home to a rotating series of classes, including butchering instruction through the Portland Meat Collective.

OUR WHO//

THE NIGHTWOOD SOCIETY IS A COLLECTIVE and THE NIGHTWOOD IS OUR HOME. The Nightwood Collective is owned by 2 women, operated by a small but nimble team of 4, our collective often grows to 10 and beyond!

Every person who is on our team has a LOVE affair with food. For some it is the farm, the cooking, the hands-on doing. For others it is wellness, lifestyle or even entertainment.

WE WELCOME EVERYONE. While we are owned and operated by women, we believe real change happens through inclusivity. We are often asked....Are men welcome to your events? And we say...ABSOLUTELY! Some of our biggest supporters are men. Our goal is to build a community of customers that represents all genders, identities, orientations, ages, races and interests that share our values and love food and fun. It is that simple.

If you are as passionate about thoughtfully produced food, beautifully designed spaces, and creative collaboration as we are, then we want to get to know you.

OUR NEED//

OUR GOAL IS TO RAISE $50,000 SO WE CAN BRING OUR NEW SPACE TO LIFE!

We have found a home but now we need to stock it with chairs, tables and equipment. Your contribution will go directly to getting us up and running!

We know $50K is not a small amount, but it’s absolutely possible with your help. No monetary gift is too small! Whether it is $5 or $5000, each dollar will enable us to build our dream.

From the very beginning, the response to The Nightwood has been enthusiastic and vocal. People have asked, “What can I do?” and “How can I help?” The best way you can help right now is through funding. In doing so you will be investing in women owned business at a time when funding is critical. Today,

Less than 5% of SBA bank loans go to women.

Less than 3% of venture capital goes to women.

Women make up nearly half of the U.S. workforce.

One in five firms with revenue of $1 million or more is woman-owned.

Women are majority owners of 36% of all small businesses and growing.

With your funding we can bring our vision for The Nightwood to life!

OUR HOW//

THE NIGHTWOOD is available for events both large and small. Our all female team of chefs, event planners, designers, wine professionals and farmers have decades of experience in event production and in the field.

Events at The Nightwood are produced with care and an attention to detail that will ensure you have the very best experience from inception through execution.

OUR WHEN//

NOW!

Our doors are open and we are booking events! BUT in order to be best in class we need to realize our aesthetic vision. We want our customers to enter our space and feel like they stepped off of the street and into a story each and every event.

WE ARE DIFFERENT// WE MAKE COOL SHIT HAPPEN EVERYDAY.

WE ARE SENSORY PRODUCERS. The food is as important as the music, the lighting, the art and the natural installations. We LOVE infusing each tailored experience with curated creativity. No two events are ever the same!

WE ARE CONNECTED. Our local network is strong and we are tapped into all of the best farmers, purveyors and makers in town. This is our passion and we want to share our access with you.

WE KNOW FOOD//

Our in house team of lady chefs and butchers have total freedom to create a unique menu each and every time. We believe that creative freedom in the kitchen, on a canvas or in the field fuels better ideas and a more unique experience for our customers.

Plus, we are challenging the status quo of kitchen life. Every female chef can tell you the endless stories of kitchen life. The jokes, the innuendos and the criticism is something we want to change. Not all kitchens are that way, but enough that we are inspired to be different, to challenge the status quo, to go rogue.

WE KNOW CULINARY EDUCATION//

While the parties are fun we know that many of our customers want to bring a bit of magic back to their own kitchens. Our lady gang hosts a range of hands-on, uniquely curated, culinary education experiences and all are welcome.

THE NIGHTWOOD IN THE WILD//

When we aren't at home in our new space, you can find us In The Wild. Our motto is... IF YOU CAN DREAM IT, WE CAN DO IT.

The Nightwood is available to produce one-of-a kind off-site experiences. We provide food and/or design services for events in Portland, the Willamette Valley and beyond. We can produce on location for large scale events such as product launches, festivals and farm dinners as well as more intimate events like weddings, birthday parties and team workshops.

We are happy to work with your coordinator/team or utilize our own talented staff to facilitate at signature Nightwood experience in every aspect from food, beverage, service, aesthetic, floral, design, music and art installations.

OUR KICK ASS TEAM //

The Nightwood is a collaboration of women passionate about kicking the status quo to the curb. We are farmers, butchers, and creatives banding together to produce extraordinary experiences around food and wine.

Our core collective is 10 deep and NWS runs much deeper but these 4 characters keep the lights on daily.

MICHELLE BATTISTA // PROPRIETRESS

Bringing people and ideas together has always been at the heart of what drives Michelle Battista. She built her reputation in the design and marketing world, then a fateful product consulting gig with renown chefs and restauranteurs ignited her love of food. In 2014 she co-opened an event space in NE Portland and a year later formed Stockpot Collective, a community of marketing + content experts in the world of food. Michelle knew the time was right to realize her dream of launching a new venture in food + design with an all woman group of creatives. She gathered her dream team of butcher, bakers, and magic-makers and The Nightwood was born!

KATI REARDON // PROPRIETRESS

Kati Reardon has always had a head for business and the heart of a creative. She honed her skills working for international retail brands like Banana Republic, Columbia, and Nike developing innovative products while getting her MBA. Thanks to her educator parents, Kati always knew the value of gathering around a table to share a meal and have thought provoking and politically charged conversations. Kati's family enabled her to build the confidence and desire to challenge the status quo. Married with a love for food + wellness, Kati's dream for The Nightwood is to combine her favorite things: food, wellness and changing the world for girls + women.

LEAH SCAFE // DIRECTOR OF EXPERIENCE

Leah Scafe – our favorite Canadian by way of Salmon Arm, B.C. – worked as director for farm-to-table events pioneer Outstanding in the Field, taking her on all kinds of food adventures across the U.S. After 7 years, Leah arrived in Oregon to co-found Let Um Eat, a network of food producers, chefs, and food advocates. All of Leah’s skills as a planner and problem solver is a major part of the magic at The Nightwood. Leah is the go to you want for any event. A total rock star!

SARAH SCHNEIDER // KITCHEN QUEEN

Sarah Schneider got her start in the kitchen as a teen. After finishing culinary school in Portland, Sarah worked in groundbreaking kitchens from San Francisco to New York City. She also traveled the world as a chef on a cruise ship. Sarah returned to Portland in 2015, when she took her place in the kitchen at Renata as sous chef and butcher. Sarah's creative energy and moxie makes us so excited to have her as our Kitchen Queen.

THE NIGHTWOOD IN THE PRESS//

CREATIVE MORNINGS

We are excited and honored to be hosting CREATIVE MORNINGS at THE NIGHTWOOD on Dec. 8th!

Risks and challenges

Being in the event business is a sales and marketing dream. We get to connect with so many amazing people and help them bring their ideas to life. We know that some months are tougher than others and to offset the slow season in events we will offer industry networking events, corporate offsites and commissary to other culinary folks looking for space.

We know this journey won't be easy, but we believe that our combined experience coupled with our extensive network will enable us to be successful.

With you help you too can positively impact change in our community and help us put women to work.

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY... THANK YOU to everyone who made this possible. The support of our community has been amazing!

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $25 or more
About $25

THE FUTURE OF FOOD IS FEMALE TOTE

Represent! Represent! This tote will be your new favorite go-to grab bag. Use it to carry your farmers market goodies, trips to the wine shop and so much more! Plus membership to The Nightwood Society and access to the newsletter and sneak peak on pics and recipes.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $50 or more
About $50

MISS SADIE HAWKINS NYE PARTY

ALL GENDERS WELCOME! Guys...Here's your invitation to the PARTY of the year! Put on your dancing shoes and your snappiest kit and let's boogie! Ladies!!! Fur your thing- ROCK IT! Sequins and beads- YES! Dapper pant suit-ALL DAY! This will be a NYE party like none other.

A buffet feast will be set with ALL the delicious vittles and a no host bar will be open with lots of bubbles and fun cocktails! Snap a pic or two at our gender bending photo booth and and get rockin' to the tunes all night. This is a limited time offer and tickets will go FAST so don't miss it!

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $300 or more
About $300

YOUR VERY OWN CHAIR

Every table needs a CHAIR! By sponsoring a chair you are directly contributing to realizing The Nightwood. Each $300 contribution will enable us to purchase a unique chair that will become a part of our mismatch collection. Also, with your contribution each chair will have a beautifully crafted plaque in honor of you, your family, your friend or your favorite lady gang.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $500 or more
About $500

EVERY CHAIR NEEDS A TABLE

Every chair needs a TABLE! By sponsoring a table you are directly contributing to realizing The Nightwood. With your contribution each table will have a beautifully crafted plaque in honor of you, your family, your friend or your favorite lady gang. Each chair will receive a beautiful gold plaque engraved with the name of your choosing.